Complaints
88
Crashes
11
Fires
2
Injuries
5
Fatalities
—
Recalls
0
Worst 1998 Lincoln Continental Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
#110 complaints
Unintended Acceleration
Avg mileage:69,875 mi
Crash-related:3
Fires:1
#25 complaints
Automatic Transmission
Avg mileage:140,000 mi
Crash-related:1
#34 complaints
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 1998 Lincoln Continental.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unintended Acceleration | 10 | 3 | 1 | 69,875 mi | |
| Automatic Transmission | 5 | 1 | — | 140,000 mi | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 4 | — | 1 | — | |
| Electrical Faults | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Seat Belts:Rear/Other | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Visibility:Windshield | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Airbags | 2 | 1 | — | — | |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 2 | 2 | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Equipment:Electrical | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 2 | 1 | — | — | |
| Structure:Body:Door | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Tire Defects | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Vehicle Speed Control:Linkages | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Anti-Theft:Control Module | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Crankcase (Pcv) | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Other Equipment | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Headlight/Taillight Failures | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Exterior Lighting:Turn Signal:Flasher Unit | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel System, Other:Storage | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Interior Lighting | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Torque Converter | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Manual Transmission | 1 | — | — | — |
Unintended Acceleration
10
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
1
Avg Miles
69,875
Automatic Transmission
5
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
140,000
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Electrical Faults
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seat Belts:Rear/Other
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Visibility:Windshield
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Airbags
2
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Air Bags:Frontal
2
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Ignition
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Equipment:Electrical
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
2
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Structure:Body:Door
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Tire Defects
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Vehicle Speed Control:Linkages
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Ignition:Anti-Theft:Control Module
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Crankcase (Pcv)
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Other Equipment
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Headlight/Taillight Failures
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Exterior Lighting:Headlights
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Exterior Lighting:Turn Signal:Flasher Unit
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System, Other:Storage
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Interior Lighting
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Torque Converter
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Manual Transmission
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 1998 Lincoln Continental. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Other Lincoln Continental Years
1998 Lincoln Continental — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 1998 Lincoln Continental reliable?
Verdict: Typical for Model. The 1998 Lincoln Continental has 88 NHTSA complaints, 11 crash-related, and 0 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Unintended Acceleration with 10 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 1998 Lincoln Continental?
Top reported problems: Unintended Acceleration (10 complaints, avg 69,875 mi); Automatic Transmission (5 complaints, avg 140,000 mi); Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System (4 complaints). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 1998 Lincoln Continental?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 93,250 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 1998 Lincoln Continental?
NHTSA complaints for the 1998 Lincoln Continental include 11 crash-related reports, 2 fire reports, 5 injuries, and 0 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 1998 Lincoln Continental have any recalls?
No NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the 1998 Lincoln Continental as of the latest data sync. Verify by VIN for the most current status — new recalls can be issued years after a model year ships.
Should I buy a 1998 Lincoln Continental?
Complaint levels are in line with what's expected. Normal used-car due diligence applies — check the specific VIN for accident history, open recalls, and title brands.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.
Wider context: See the full Lincoln Continental reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 1998 Lincoln Continental
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.
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